09 November,2015 02:42 PM IST | | Anirban Das
First time in his career, Sooraj Barjatya, the 'cleanest' filmmaker in Bollywood, is asked to take three cuts in his upcoming film, 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'
Sonam Kapoor and Salman Khan, A still from 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'
The unbelievable has happened. The Censor Board recently suggested Sooraj Barjatya, possibly the cleanest filmmaker in Bollywood, to effect three cuts in his upcoming Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor-starrer, 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'. The Board, we hear, took objection to the use of 'rakhail' (mistress) apart from two other scenes.
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Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor in 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'
The examining committee watched the film last week before suggesting the cuts, a source from the film's team informs, adding, "The makers decided to adhere to their suggestion."
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The two scenes that have been censored includes a Ram-Leela sequence which had a couple of old, Hindi melodies playing in the background. "The scene plays out with the film's title track and was interspersed with two old songs in some portions. The Censor Board felt it was not suitable to accompany the Ram-Leela visuals. The other scene shows a person being hanged, but the examining committee wanted it to be a long shot. The makers have complied with all the suggestions," adds a source close to the project.
Sooraj Barjatya
The censor trouble came as a shock to the film's unit, especially since Barjatya is at the helm. "He is known for making the cleanest family films. In fact, 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' has zero offensive content. This is the first time that such a thing has happened with Barjatya. This is truly shocking," adds the source.
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Nandini Sardesai, member of the Board revising committee, denies knowledge of the development. "Every film has to go to the examining committee first and if the makers do not agree with its verdict, they approach the revising committee. But it has not come to us. The examining committee can't talk (about the issue) as people are not supposed to know who are part of that panel."
